4 characters Idiom and proverb 14 901

We’re offering free resources to help you learn Chinese. In this series, idioms and proverbs take center stage, known for their deep meanings and versatile usage. Today’s idiom is 「乘其不意」, explained below.

The Chinese idiom 「乘其不意」 we’re introducing today is explained in detail below, along with its meaning and usage.

Cheng: take advantage of, because of; Yi: guess, expect. Take advantage of others’ unpreparedness.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

chéng qí bù yì

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

sing4 kei4 bat1 yi3

The world of Chinese idioms is massive, filled with countless expressions, each with distinct meanings and applications. These materials are here to support you as you improve your Chinese skills.